Tag: Charles Rosa

Charles Rosa: Bryce Mitchell ‘getting one of his limbs ripped off’ if he takes UFC 249 fight to ground

Charles Rosa is giving Bryce Mitchell a stern warning ahead of their UFC 249 fight.

[autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag] is giving [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag] a stern warning about going to the mat with him.

Rosa (12-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) is set to face Mitchell (12-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at UFC 249 on May 9 – assuming the event happens – in a matchup between two of the most prolific submission artists in the featherweight division.

Mitchell is coming off a “Submission of the Year” in his last outing, but Rosa is unfazed. He, too, is coming off a first-round submission, making a successful return to the octagon vs. Manny Bermudez after a more than two-year layoff.

While many are expecting this to be a ground affair, Rosa says Mitchell should think twice about taking it there.

“I mean, that’s on him,” Rosa told MMA Junkie. “If he wants to take it to the ground, you can guarantee he’s getting one of his limbs ripped off, or he’s getting choked out. I mean, that’s a fact. If the fight goes to the ground for more than a 30-second period, he’s either going to sleep, or he’s gonna get his arm popped. And if he doesn’t tap, then I’m gonna go after the other one.

“There’s really been no UFC fight that anyone has wanted to take it to the ground with me, and you see what happens when they do. They get submitted. The only two people that have done that were Sean Soriano and Manny Bermudez – went to the ground with me, and they got submitted.”

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The fight between the two actually came together through some back-and-forth banter on Twitter, and while there’s no ill-will on Rosa’s side. It’s all business in the cage for him.

“I mean, the truth is, I respect him a lot as a martial artist,” Rosa said. “I respect that he’s a tough kid, and I do respect what he does, but when it comes in the cage, all that respect goes away. When it comes to me fighting him, I mean, he’s my enemy right now. I’m not his friend right now, and that’s how I really feel. I mean, I’m going in there to take his head off, and I’m sure he’s going to be doing mine.

“I really like the matchup of having like a country boy vs. a city boy. It’s something I always grew up as a kid, wondering who’s tougher – a country kid or a city boy.”

Dana White: UFC to return May 9; Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje, other title fights on tap

The UFC is eying a May 9 return, with an event at a location to be determined, but a blockbuster lineup in mind.

The UFC may be back sooner than anticipated.

When UFC president Dana White canceled UFC 249, he also postponed all subsequent events indefinitely due to restrictions caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as well as a request to stand down by the UFC’s broadcast partners at ESPN and Disney. However, the promotion is now eying a May 9 return, with an event at a location to be determined.

Tuesday, MMA Junkie confirmed the UFC’s considered plans with a person with knowledge of the situation. The person asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Fighting was the first to report the plans.

Dana White later informed ESPN the promotion is looking to rebook various big fights that were delayed by the schedule change, including [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] (originally set to headline UFC 249), [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag] (originally in the works to headline UFC 250), [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] (originally set to co-headline UFC 250), and [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (originally set to headline UFC on ESPN 8).

Upon announcing the cancellation and postponements, White promised the UFC would be the first sporting organization to return to normalcy – whether it be on a mysterious “Fight Island” he said the company is currently constructing, or elsewhere.

“We will be the first sport back,” White said. “‘Fight Island’ is real. It’s a real thing. The infrastructure is being built right now, and that’s really going to happen. It will be on ESPN.”

If the event isn’t scheduled for “Fight Island,” the state of Florida could be another potential location for the UFC to hold the May 9 card. In a press release issued Monday, Florida governor Ron DeSantis revealed some sporting events, including WWE, will be deemed essential businesses.

It’s unknown if Tachi Palace Casino in Lemore, Calif. could be in the cards, as well. The Indian reservation casino was targeted to be the new home of UFC 249 on April 18, prior to ESPN and Disney executives asking the UFC to cancel the event entirely.

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Prior to the announcement of postponements, the UFC had 11 events publicly on tap: UFC 249 (April 18 in Lemore, Calif.), UFC on ESPN+ 31 (April 25 in Lemore, Calif.), UFC on ESPN+ 32 (May 2 in Lemore, Calif.), UFC 250 (May 9 at Location TBD), UFC on ESPN+ 33 (May 16 in San Diego), UFC 251 (June 6 in Perth, Australia), UFC Kazakhstan (June 13 in Nur-Sultan, Kazakstan), UFC Saskatoon (June 20 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada), UFC Austin (June 27 in Austin, Texas), UFC 252 (July 11 in Las Vegas), and UFC Dublin (Aug. 15 in Dublin, Ireland).

The status of all above events are currently unknown.

According to ESPN, the proposed May 9 event includes the following lineup:

  • Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje – for interim lightweight title
  • Champ Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz – for bantamweight title
  • Champ Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer – for women’s featherweight title
  • Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
  • [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Yorgan De Castro[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Aleksei Oleinik[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Michelle Waterson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag]

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If things get worse: 7 fighters by my side during the apocalypse

MMA Junkie’s Dan Tom breaks down the list of the seven fighters he’d want by his side during the apocalypse. Who made the cut?

With the worldwide COVID-19 epidemic in full effect, fighters and fight fans alike find themselves in the same boat as everyone else when it comes to finding their next source of entertainment and income.

Sports across the globe have pretty much come to a halt, and though MMA may be a sport that can return to business faster than others, the fact still remains that our new realities currently involve factors like social distancing and self quarantines.

Now, I don’t want to make light of the pandemic at hand or overly sensationalize the current climate, since I’m sure we’ll all come through this as better human beings. However, in case things get worse – hypothetically – I thought it would be a fun exercise to construct a fantasy team of seven fighters who you’d want by your side in the event of an all-out apocalypse.

Here’s mine, and feel free to share yours in the comments section below:

No. 7: Frank Mir

Strengths: Weaponry, looks intimidating, probably already ready for the apocalypse

Summary: I believe it was Joe Rogan who said that if [autotag]Frank Mir[/autotag] fell down a flight of stairs it would set off a firework show of gunshots. Regardless if there’s any truth to that or not, anyone who carries enough weapons on the regular that they accidentally smuggle ammunition into another country can be on my apocalypse team any day.

Former UFC heavyweight champ credentials aside, Mir – who looms large at 6-foot-3 – just looks like a guy you wouldn’t want to mess with. Add in his tactical skills and a large stockpile of guns, and that’s the person I’d want guarding my resources (assuming he lets you back in the house after your supply run).

Frank Mir tactical firearm training:

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Bryce Mitchell vs. Charles Rosa in the works for UFC Oklahoma City

Bryce Mitchell and Charles Rosa are close to getting what they asked for.

[autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag] and [autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag] are close to getting what they asked for.

The UFC is working on adding a bout between the two featherweight fighters to UFC Oklahoma City. While the fight is not finalized quite yet, MMA Junkie confirmed the targeted bout with two people with knowledge of the situation on Wednesday. Those people requested anonymity because they are not publicly authorized to discuss such matters.

The targeted bout was first reported by BJPenn.com.

UFC Oklahoma City takes place May 2 at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The event does not have an official numerical designation, though it is expected to air on ESPN or stream on ESPN+.

Following their respective submission wins in the final months of 2019, Mitchell (12-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Rosa (12-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) went back-and-forth on social media in early February. The conversation began with Rosa challenging Mitchell, who immediately voiced his interest in the matchup.

Ever-growing in popularity, Mitchell pulled off the second twister submission in UFC history against Matt Sayles in December. A few weeks prior, Rosa defeated Manny Bermudez by first-round armbar in October. The fight was Rosa’s first since April 2017.

The latest UFC Oklahoma City lineup now includes:

  • Jack Hermansson vs. Chris Weidman
  • Sarah Alpar vs. Duda Santana
  • Claudia Gadelha vs. Marina Rodriguez
  • Andrei Arlovski vs. Philipe Lins
  • Ed Herman vs. Da Un Jung
  • Bryce Mitchell vs. Charles Rosa

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Boston vs. Arkansas? Charles Rosa and Bryce Mitchell fancy early summer fight

Charles Rosa and Bryce Mitchell are on the same page about fighting each other.

[autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag] wants to put his toughness to the test against one of the most exciting rising stars of the UFC featherweight division.

Rosa called out [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag], who immediately responded, and it appears that the two have mutually agreed to throw down.

Undefeated Mitchell (12-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) is coming off the biggest win of his career, scoring only the second twister submission in UFC history against Matt Sayles at UFC on ESPN 7. The finish was MMA Junkie’s “Submission of the Year,” and “ThugNasty’s” passionate and outspoken demeanor has made the Arkansas native a firm favorite with fight fans.

Rosa (12-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) came back impressively from a two-year layoff when he submitted Manny Bermudez in just one round at UFC on ESPN 6 in Boston. The finish earned him his fourth “Performance of the Night” bonus in six UFC fights.

But, as Mitchell previously mentioned, he’s not looking to return before May, and Rosa happens to be targeting a return around the same time.

If the stars align, the UFC matchmakers could have a ready-made “Fight of the Night” contender to plug into an early summer fight card.

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